A pleasant sunny drive
through the country side to Weir Wood SC for the ‘substitute’ Streaker Open
meeting (after the loss of the Bewl and Crawley Mariners cancellations).
Arriving in the car park there did not appear to be any visiting boats but
after enquiry we found we had to drive down to the foreshore to unload and here
we found another six boats, a seventh
arrived slightly later. There was not a breath of wind and a glassy sheen on
the water. Whilst rigging, a breath did appear and seven or eight Oppies
appeared on the water, with their Instructors in an RFD.
At the10.30 am
briefing the R.O. Martin Pascoe said that he hoped to start the first race (of
four) at about 11.00 am (as programmed) as he could see a bit of breeze
building. It did eventually come up but rarely exceeded force 3 all day. The
course set was a traditional Triangle/Sausage with the windward mark set
towards the north east corner of the dam. With the committee boat well to the
west the first race did not get underway on time, probably nearer to 11.30.
At the gun for race 1 it was
Alex Butler (Hayling Island SC ) who was first to cross the line with Alan
Simmons (Lancing SC) to leeward and Gil Cumming (Weir Wood SC) at little
behind. The breeze was fickle up the first beat but those who went to the right
hand side found a trifle more and Alex pulled out a goodly lead ahead of Gil
and then Alex Reindorp (Chipstead) with Veronica Falat (Waveney & Oulton
Broad) in fourth position. Alan was in 5th place with Chris Smith (Island Barn)
sixth and Peter Witherington (Burgfield)
seventh. The off-wind legs were quite sluggish but Veronica pulled up to lie second. Lap sheets only record each full ‘circuit’ –
both triangle and sausage, but Alec held on for the first ‘lap’ result ahead of
Veronica and third placed Alex with Gil in fourth place, Alan fifth, Peter
sixth and Chris seventh. In the second
‘lap’ Veronica passed Alec but he held off Alex, Gil maintained his fourth place but both Peter and Chris passed
Alan.
Race 2 held back to back saw
Alec once more making a good start but Veronica, Gil and Alex in close
contention. The first’ lap’ ended with Veronica in the lead, Gil second, Chris
third and Alec fourth. In the second lap Veronica was the winner from Alec with Chris fourth and Alan fifth. Sixth place went to Peter with Alex seventh.
After lunch the RO shifted
the marks a bit as the wind had turned and increased a little and it was Gil
who led the fleet in race 3 with Chris second and Veronica third at the end of
the first ’lap’. In’ lap’ 2 Veronica
came to the fore with Chris still lying second and Alex just behind, and ahead
of Alec. Peter went ahead of Alan and Gil retired. In the third and final ‘lap’
Veronica held onto the lead with Alex
behind her and Alec taking third spot as
Chris slipped back to fourth and Peter
and Alan stayed in the same relative positions.
The fourth and final race of
the event was also held back to back (with race 3) with now just six boats.
Alec led from the start with Alex behind and Peter behind him. Veronica had to
be content with fourth place at the end of the first ‘lap’ with Chris fifth and
Alan last. It was critical to get the last mini windward leg correct, from the
leeward mark to the line, this was the undoing in several cases. ‘Lap’ 2 and
Alec held onto his lead with Veronica gaining second place ahead of Chris and
then Alan, Alex having dropped back to fifth and Peter to sixth. The final
‘lap’ saw Alec still in the lead to cross the line in pole position with
Veronica second, Alex having recovered to cross third, passing Chris on the way
and with Peter also passing Alan.
The overall winner of the
meeting was Veronica with Alec second, Alex third, Chris fourth, Peter fifth
and Alan seventh. Gil having only completed two races, retired in the third and
not starting the fourth was placed sixth.
It was a good day’s racing
with very fickle breezes, one or two of the gusts in the afternoon were just
about enough to get the boats on the plane. It was mostly sunny but when the
clouds went across the sun the temperatures dropped considerably. Thanks go to
Gil Cumming who organised the series and persuaded Weir Wood to hold the
meeting after the two earlier cancellations. This is a Venue that the Streakers
(well, those present) would like to visit again.
Alan.S 1700
PS. This report is long
delayed due in no small part to my ‘buckling’ leg problem, which has led to
several visits to the doctor and a hospital specialist. I have not been able to
sail since this meeting as I have been barely able to walk up and down the
beach at Lancing SC. There are slight signs of improvement but further test are
(not eagerly) awaited.
